
Let Us Help You Access a Great Education in Funeral Service
Access to a great education is one of the central tenets of the Foundation’s mission of investing in people and programs to strengthen funeral service and lift up grieving communities. Each year, the Foundation offers dozens of academic scholarships in two application cycles. Scholarships range from $2,500-$5,000 and are open to full-time or part-time students in good standing who are enrolled in ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited institutions/programs. Candidates must be attending classes and actively pursuing a degree in funeral service at the time of application. Students who have been accepted into a program, but have not started coursework are not yet eligible to apply.
Submission Cycles
Applications Accepted February 15-April 1 & September 15-November 1

“I am so thankful and grateful for this scholarship. The financial support of my education means so much. I am looking forward to serving as a funeral director in my home state of Michigan after graduation and am humbled to have the opportunity to serve families in the near future.”

Mia Wielenga
2019-20 Academic Scholarship Winner
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Wheeling, IL
Academic Scholarships for Students of Funeral Service
Available Academic Scholarships
Bob Horn Scholarship
NEW THIS YEAR! Named in honor of Foundation Past Chair Bob Horn, who was awarded the Foundation’s first-ever Distinguished Service Award in 2021.
Dennis Schoepp Memorial Scholarship
Preference will be given to students from MONTANA who INTEND to return to MONTANA after graduation to work in funeral service, and who are also affiliated with a Montana Funeral Directors Association Member Firm (MFDA). In addition to Foundation submission requirements, students interested in the Dennis Schoepp Memorial Scholarship must also submit a letter of reference/support from an MFDA Member Firm to MFDA (info@montananfda.org).
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
Named in honor of the year the Foundation was established – 1945.
Joseph E. Hagan Memorial Scholarship
Named in memory of one of the profession’s finest.
Memorial Classic Scholarship
Made possible with proceeds from the annual Memorial Classic Golf Tournament.
Shipley Rose Buckner Memorial Scholarship
In honor of Shipley’s desire to become a funeral director, this scholarship is open to women.
Steve Lang Scholarship
Named in honor of Homesteaders’ former CEO, Steve Lang.
SCI National Scholarship Program
We also promote the Brenda Renee Horn and Steve Mack Memorial Scholarships in partnership with the SCI National Scholarship Program. Please direct any questions regarding SCI’s scholarship program to Campus.Relations@sci-us.com.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Essay & Video
Each candidate is required to answer five questions in no more than 250 words per question, and submit a brief video, no longer than two minutes.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
When you submit your application, you’ll also be required to upload:
- Your most recent transcripts from your ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited institution.
- A letter of good standing from an instructor or program director.
- A letter of recommendation.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS FOR VETERANS
CONTINUE YOUR JOURNEY TO SERVE
The Funeral Service Foundation, in partnership with the ICCFA Educational Foundation, offers academic scholarships to United States and Canadian military veterans, as part of the Journey to Serve initiative. Offered twice a year, scholarships range from $2,500-$5,000 and are available to military veterans who are 18 years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently enrolled (or accepted into) in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program.
SUBMISSION CYCLES
Applications Accepted:
February 15 – April 1
September 15 – November 1

AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MILITARY VETERANS
The $5,000 scholarship, awarded twice a year, is designed to help US and Canadian military veterans continue their call of duty in a funeral service or deathcare career honoring the values revered in every branch of the military: Respect, dedication, and commitment to community.
Eligibility
This scholarship is open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States or Canada who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently accepted into or currently enrolled in an ABFSE- or Canadian-accredited funeral service program.
The $2,500 scholarship, awarded twice a year, is named in memory Hunter M. Harbeson, who, like generations before him, including his father Jeff “The Funeral Commander” Harbeson, served in the United States military, and continued his journey to serve in a career in funeral service and deathcare.
Learn More About Hunter’s Legacy
Eligibility
Open to military veterans who are legal residents of the United States who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of application and who are currently accepted into or currently enrolled in an ABFSE-accredited funeral service program.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Essay & Video
Each candidate is required to answer five questions in no more than 250 words per question, and submit a brief video, no longer than two minutes.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
When you submit your application, you’ll also be required to upload:
- A letter of enrollment or a letter of good standing from an ABFSE- or Canadian accredited institution.
- Most recent academic transcript.
- An overview of military service.
2022 ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Spring Recipients

Sevin Antley
Minneapolis, MN
University of Minnesota
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Sheri Arndt
Lethbridge, AB
Canadian College of Funeral Service
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Jamie Beckwith
Plymouth, IN
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$5,000

Rebekah Bowe
West St. Paul, MB
Canadian College of Funeral Service
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$5,000

Brady Brockhaus
Creighton, NE
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service
Memorial Classic Scholarship
$2,500

Jesenia Cabrera
Springfield, MA
Goodwin University
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Kamieka Corbett
Circle Pines, MN
University of Minnesota
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Mel Delgado
Norman, OK
University of Central Oklahoma
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$5,000

Amabel D’souza
Edmonton, AB
Mount Royal University
Bob Horn Scholarship
$5,000

Amy Fletcher
Seymour, IN
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Luke Foreman
Bozeman, MT
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service
Dennis Schoepp Memorial Scholarship
$5,000

Adam Gonzalez
Oak Lawn, IL
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Cheryl Guertin
Waterbury, CT
Goodwin University
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Molly Hamlin
Akron, OH
PIMS-Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$5,000

Nicole Heald
Rock Island, IL
Carl Sandburg College
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Nicholas Holdeman
Ames, OK
University of Central Oklahoma
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$5,000

Izzy Jackson-Rhoades
Lafayette, IN
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Candace Jenkins
Greenville, SC
Piedmont Technical College
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$5,000

Jessica Kent
Lombard, IL
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Jason Lundquist
Clifton, TX
Northeast Texas Community College
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Aaron Pauls
Manhattan, KS
Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service
Steve Lang Scholarship
$2,500

Aaron Pellegrini
Yerington, NV
American Academy McAllister Institute of Funeral Service Education
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$5,000

Brett Peterson
West Fargo, ND
PIMS-Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Shirley Rankine
Irving, TX
Dallas Institute of Funeral Service
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Ali Scheck
Kelowna, BC
British Columbia Funeral Association and Funeral Service Association of BC
Joseph E. Hagan Memorial Scholarship
$5,000

Natalie Schwinkendorf
Laporte, IN
Worsham College of Mortuary Science
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Molly Smith
Coldwater, MI
Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500

Rachel Smith
Wilmington, NC
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Shipley Rose Buckner Memorial Scholarship
$2,500

Amy Webb
Wichita, KS
Des Moines Area Community College
Foundation ’45 Scholarship
$2,500